March 7, 2004
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GREENSBORO, N.C. - Shay Doron scored 19 points, but the University of Maryland women's basketball team fell to top-seeded Duke, 70-63, in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament Sunday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
Blue Devil standout Alana Beard scored 21 points and Monique Currie added 16 for Duke(26-3), who trailed by eight in the second half before rallying and advancing to Monday's
championship game.
Duke will face either North Carolina or North Carolina State in the title
game.
Doron scored 19 points for the fourth-seeded Terrapins (17-12), who
stayed with the Blue Devils. Delvona Oliver added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Oliver made three free throws and Maryland used a 12-1 run early in the
second half to take a 41-33 lead. The Terrapins also led 48-41 on a jumper in
the lane from Doron with 11:07 remaining.
But the Blue Devils' tournament experience soon came through. Trailing by
three, Duke scored on nine straight possessions - many on drives to the basket
- to take the lead.
Beard got things started with a putback off a miss by Iciss Tillis, and then
followed with a drive on Doron to cut the deficit to 51-49. On the next play,
Vicki Krapohl faked a pass to Beard then hit down a 3-pointer for a 52-51 lead.
The Blue Devils went ahead to stay when Beard found Mistie Bass inside on a
pick-and-roll for a 54-53 lead at the 5:40 mark.
Duke also went 6-for-6 from the line during its run.
In the final six minutes, the Terrapins, who were making their first
semifinal appearance in six years, missed two key free throws after a 12-for-12
start, and couldn't get the stops they desperately needed.
